A Louisiana Army veteran who was sentenced for the murder of an unarmed Iraqi civilian while serving abroad will be sent to jail for attacking Capitol security officers on January 6.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a press release that U.S. District Judge John D. Bates, a George W. Bush appointment, sentenced Edward Richmond Jr., 40, to 51 months, or more than four years, in prison on Monday.
In August, Richmond entered a guilty plea to assaulting authorities while brandishing a lethal or dangerous weapon.
Prosecutors said Richmond attacked police officers at the entrance to the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, which was the site of some of the most violent riots that day, in its sentencing document, which called for 63 months in jail.
For about two hours, he led the crowd against the officers in the Tunnel while fully outfitted in tactical gear. Using a baton, he attacked officers and screamed, “We’ll break you motherf—-!”
Additionally, he stole a police shield and helmet from the policemen and distributed them to the crowd.
In order to aid rioters in overwhelming tired, wounded, and bloodied police officers who were standing shoulder to shoulder with their body weight to contain the assault, he also passed a 6-foot wooden board into the tunnel.
Through a shattered window, Richmond also brought Capitol furnishings into the crowd.
Prosecutors claimed that the Army veteran’s three-year court martial in 2004 for using a rifle to shoot a detained Iraqi cow herder in the head while on tour in Tikrit did not discourage him.
Prosecutors further stated that when he was taken into custody in January 2024 in connection with the Jan. 6 case, he possessed a loaded AR-15 assault gun at his house.
“The sentence now must reflect those concerning choices, as well as his violent conduct on January 6, 2021,” prosecutors stated.
Richmond’s attorneys stated in his sentencing memo that although he was present that day to ensure the safety of a number of individuals, he has shown a “super” acceptance of responsibility.
“Between the events of January 6, 2021, and the day of his arrest, Mr. Richmond led a productive life working as a solar panel technician and raising his son by himself,” according to the document. “He deserves a downward variant sentence.”
Before he marched on the Capitol and confronted the police, Richmond, according to the prosecution, was part of a “security team” that was paid to go with nine individuals to Donald Trump rallies in Washington, D.C., on the day that Congress was certifying the 2020 presidential winner.
He once struck officers many times with a metal baton while they were at the tunnel’s mouth.
On January 22, 2024, he was captured, but he was not detained right away. In an urgent move, government lawyers requested that he be placed under detention, claiming that he has a violent past and “may snap again” if released from custody.
Richmond’s detention was ordered by a judge who granted the government’s request. According to reports, the AR-15—which he was prohibited from possessing due to his manslaughter conviction—was the decisive element.
In 2004, Richmond was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the Iraqi shooting death. A military panel found that during a suspected insurgent roundup, Richmond shot Muhamad Husain Kadir in the head as he was being taken into custody by troops.
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According to The Associated Press, Richmond said during his trial that he was unaware the man was restrained and believed he was about to attack a soldier.
The tribunal decided to drop the initial accusation of unpremeditated murder, which carried a possible life sentence, in favor of voluntary manslaughter.
Richmond received a three-year military prison sentence and was dishonorably discharged.
